Government must stand strong on youth provision

Tim Loughton recently attended the Liberal Democrat Education Parliamentary Policy Committee. It was before the publication of "Positive for Youth" and as the person who had chaired our youth policy working group that produced Free to be Young, I was particularly interested in incorporating as much of our policy as possible. One of our manifesto commitments was a statutory youth service. Tim explained that there would be a consultation on current guidance and that it was his intention to strengthen it. So, as you might imagine, I was very interested to see what has gone out for consultation.

I welcome the recognition that young people, particularly the most vulnerable, need access to "a wide range of services and activities... that can help improve [their] well-being and life chances" as well as opportunities to "contribute to society, including through volunteering, and have a voice in decisions which affect their lives".